History & Museums

A rich history permeates this craft beverage hub. The Coastal Salish people gathered at this site for centuries before Tumwater became the American settlement on Puget Sound and the eventual home to one of the first brewing operations in the State. Brewing has been the heartbeat and lifeblood of the Tumwater community for over 100 years. That legacy is kept alive by the Olympia Tumwater Foundation (OTF), established by Peter G. Schmidt, Sr., former president of Olympia Brewing Company and eldest son of brewery founder Leopold Schmidt. The OTF offers history talks, riverwalk tours, archives Olympia Brewing Company memorabilia, and maintains Tumwater Falls Park and the historic Schmidt House.

There are future plans to create a museum that shares the history of the area and its people. The location is still being determined.